Come on! There’s not even a single thing out there that you can hate about carrots. They’re tasty, filled with nutrition, and anybody would love to have a bite every now and then. But that goes for humans only. What about bearded dragons? Can they eat carrots too?
Bearded dragons can eat carrots. Actually, carrots contain some of the major nutrients like Vitamin C and beta-carotene that help the reptile’s skin, eyesight, and immune system healthy. But giving them carrots too often and too much is a bad idea as excessive consumption can cause them major health hazards.
But if so, how should you feed them, and how often? On top of that, carrots are hard food. So, what’s the guarantee that they won’t choke on it? Well, we’re here to get you those answers.
5 Benefits Of Feeding Carrots To Bearded Dragons
The kind of food carrots are, it’s hard to imagine them without benefits, whether for humans or beardies. So, here’s the list of benefits that might impress you enough to add carrots to your reptile’s diet.
1. Vitamin A
If you’re asking for your beardy’s healthy skin, perfect eyesight, and immune system, we don’t know what else can help as good as vitamin C. And guess what’s got a ton of it? Exactly, carrots. So if you’re ensuring Moderate consumption of this food, it can surely help your pet with getting this ‘must-have’ nutrient.
2. Fiber
There’s no way to deny that a high-fiber diet is necessary for bearded dragons since it aids in digestion and encourages regular bowel movements. So, when given in moderation, carrots too are beneficial to beardies’ digestive health because of the high fiber content.
3. Hydration
In case you didn’t know, carrots are among water-rich foods. So, adding them to your reptile’s diet can surely assist in meeting its daily water requirements. But don’t forget to provide it with a constant supply of clean water, no matter how many water-rich foods it swallows.
4. Flavor And Variety
Like any other reptile out there, beardies also appreciate a wide range of tastes and textures in their food. This way, they’ll be less likely to get bored with their diet and get all the nutrients they need. After all, carrots can be a beneficial part of a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, along with protein-rich foods such as insects.
5. Low In Sugar
This is probably one of the best reasons why bearded dragon owners should not step back from feeding their reptiles carrots. Due to being low in sugar content, carrots can reduce the risk of dental issues. The thing is, sugary meals can boost the risk of tooth decay along with other dental problems in beardies. But thankfully, carrots don’t contribute to that.
7 Health Risks Of Feeding Carrots To Bearded Dragons
We wish there wasn’t any ‘risk’ part of feeding carrots to beardies. But every coin comes with two sides. So, here are some reasons why feeding your reptile carrots too often can cause danger to them.
1. Vitamin A Toxicity
It’s true that vitamin A is important for a bearded dragon’s health and well-being. But that doesn’t mean excessive consumption of this essential nutrient can’t be dangerous. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A, but too much of this nutrient can call in symptoms, including lack of appetite, dehydration, low energy, and weight loss.
2. Oxalates
Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are found in carrots and have been shown to inhibit the absorption of calcium and other minerals. This can progress to hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia and eventually metabolic bone disease (MBD).
As carrots are filled with oxalates, overeating the food can take the reptile’s calcium reserves down. And the result? Simply raising the risk of metabolic bone disease.
3. Calcium-To-Phosphorus Ratio
Carrots have a phosphorus-to-calcium ratio of 0.6:1; therefore, they are higher in phosphorus than calcium. Overconsumption of carrots has been linked to a variety of health problems, from metabolic bone disease to kidney stones, since phosphorus combines with calcium and prevents its absorption.
4. Tannins
Tannins, found in abundance in carrots, are good at binding with proteins and blocking their absorption. On top of that, they prevent the absorption of iron and vitamin B6 by interfering with digestive enzymes in beardies. We guess you can easily assume the result here. Yes, it’s deficiencies in essential nutrients and triggering other health problems that come next.
5. Digestive Issues
The fact that bearded dragons got a delicate digestive system is nothing unknown to reptile owners. And guess what can trigger major digestive issues like bloating, constipation, or diarrhea? Exactly, fiber-rich foods, and that’s the category carrots belong to. So, if you don’t feed your bearded dragon in moderation, carrots can make it tough for your reptile to stay healthy.
6. Impaction
Large bits of carrots are clearly hard for bearded dragons to process and can cause impaction, which is a blockage in the reptile’s digestive tract. So, the best thing you can do to skip it is to cut the carrots into tiny, biteable pieces that they can chew and swallow easily.
7. Pesticide Exposure
Like lots of other fruits and vegetables, carrots too can contain harmful pesticides. So, letting them have it unwashed can be proven dangerous and even can kill the reptile. If you really want to give your bearded dragon carrots, thoroughly wash them first. Always use plenty of water while washing carrots, and look into buying organic when you can.
How Much Carrot Is Okay For Bearded Dragons?
Everything beyond control is bad, and that includes your bearded dragon’s carrot consumption as well. So, if you really want to feed it the food without messing with its health, count moderation as an open option. Rather than pushing it too far, let carrots occupy only 10% of the reptile’s overall diet.
For adult beardies, this is roughly the equivalent of two to three baby carrots every week. Therefore, bearded dragon hatchlings should limit their carrot intake to roughly one baby carrot each week. And the frequency? Well, we don’t suggest using this vegetable more than once or twice a week.
By the way, how you’re giving the carrot also matters a lot here as well. We say you better use a cheese grater to make it easy to eat. You’re probably thinking – why not just cut it into tiny pieces? Well, it still leaves the chance of choking.
We know some reptile owners think that cooked carrots can also do the trick. But that way, the nutritional value might not remain intact and deteriorate to a certain extent.
Before We Go…..
That goes only one root vegetable. But what about something a bit leafy and green, like spinach? Well, you can’t get it all at once, can you? To know what spinach can do to your beardy, feel free to check out our blog – Can Bearded Dragons Eat Spinach?
